Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes Venom Extraction

[@SCGrit7]

I’m baffled at the amount of venom that’s extracted! Whoa.

[@katrynamcintyre5687]

Again, terrifying yet interesting. You are SO BRAVE. Thank you.

[@Trancision]

As a trapper myself, his technique teaches me a lot about what these snakes are tracking and how to correctly baffle them.

[@richardfisher4638]

Awesome you are the best person who is the safest handler and doesn't show off you do your job and do it safely!! And I've seen so many people who handle on videos and you are the best may God bless you and protect you!

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Thank you guys, always impressive to watch. Very interesting work you all do, thanks for sharing 🐍🐍🐍 I liked seeing the shedding fang ~~~

[@temperanceblalock7514]

My candidate for most beautiful species is the Eastern Diamondback. Those are impressive specimens.

[@primate4]

This guy is good! Confident and efficient!

[@oyecomova5478]

Really cool getaway maneuver, seems like they've stumbled onto a great way to escape without exposing themselves.

[@JosuesExotics]

Awesome video! Can't wait to see what's next!

[@LividCruiser]

The rattlesnake that came out of the bottom enclosure? I have never seen a rattler that aggressive before!

[@praxcrown5]

Do the fangs have to rip though the protective sheath that covers them every time they are "deployed" or does the sheath have space for the tooth to poke out of it?

[@kyreptilezoo]

Great question! The sheath does have any opening and it can fold back to expose the fang.

[@RadioSnivins]

The first rule of Fight Club: you do not talk about Fight Club ...

[@angelajohnson6659]

Why don't they have a membrane on the milking glass?

[@kyreptilezoo]

Vipers and pit vipers have long enough fangs that they are able to hold their position on the funnel without a membrane. We used to use them, but decided not to with these to reduce waste. We still use them with cobras, mambas and taipans, because their fangs are proportionately smaller.

[@krishnayashas8360]

How often do you extract venom and how much time before they are filled with venom again.

[@kyreptilezoo]

We give every snake at least 2 weeks before they’re extracted again. Venomous snakes don’t empty their glands during extraction, so they do still have the ability to bite and give more venom afterwards.

[@hankarmentrout6697]

Aren’t y’all the ones who found that Gaboon Viper those kids were playing with in a garage awhile back? Like many years

[@kyreptilezoo]

That was an incident with Jim's brother. He used Jim's snake to set it up unfortunately.

[@ethanburns5457]

Go in the mountains a lot here in Kentucky I live in Leslie County Kentucky and I have seen quite a few Diamondbacks and I know what snake is what I know the difference between one rattlesnake and another and I have seen them and I just something had to happen somebody had to turn some loose somehow I've got pictures of Diamondbacks here in Leslie County and I've got pictures of Timber Rattlers here in Leslie County just thought I would tell you that

[@dontaviouschandler3961]

I saw two Diamondbacks in Lexington as well last summer and I was astonished. Herps say they're not found in Kentucky but all these reports and people seeing them different times should tell you one thing

[@richardhincemon]

Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake range is Southeastern quarter of N.C. Coastal plains and long leaf pine forest into Eastern Louisiana Coastal plains and long leaf pine forest throughout Florida and the surrounding barrier islands.

[@zacharystoorza3473]

Are rattlesnake venom different? Tim fried can handle black mamba bite, says he very immune to Mojave rattlesnake bite, so I would assume he could handle timber rattler bite

[@kyreptilezoo]

Venoms in general can vary widely between different species, and even among individuals of the same species, especially throughout their range. While it’s true that the body can create antibodies against venom, many studies show that exposing oneself to venom can increase their sensitivity to it, which puts them at higher risk of an allergic reaction during a bite.

[@petehayes8779]

Years ago and for many years a "Diamond Back Rattlesnake Rodeo" was held in Opp, Alabama where many of these creatures were captured and killed. Much ado was given to the "products" of these creatures......their skins being the main target. Through the years at a guess I would say that hundreds of these magnificent animals were slain. Now it is very rare to see one of these guys in their native habitats.

[@richardhincemon]

They finally stopped the round up in Georgia last year. Southern Georgia and Florida are the only states that have a healthy population of eastern Diamondback rattlesnakes . North Carolina and South Carolina have very few left at all.

[@byucougars3364]

Great video 👍

[@wotan10950]

Yikes! Nonetheless, I just read a book about how snake venom is the source of many human life-saving drugs. For example, anticoagulants, which prevent strokes and other deadly human medical issues.

[@riskaddictionrc]

I can totally see this guy doing this with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Dudes a master.

[@robertshockey6750]

I wonder how many times Jim has been bitten?

[@kyreptilezoo]

Jim has had 13 bites in the 47 years he's been extracting.

[@stephendouglas4343]

Great video!!!

[@damionpatterson1507]

Jim is a legend!!

[@cablewaffel7957]

How has the events of 2020 effected yall's opperations?

[@kyreptilezoo]

We had to close for a couple months, and when we reopened we changed the format the visitors- they used to have a tour guide lead them through the exhibits, but now the guide answers questions remotely via radio. We also added virtual programs as part of our outreach, especially because all but a few of our programs last year had to be cancelled. It took a few adjustments but the visitors that came last year were very supportive of the changes.

[@cablewaffel7957]

@@kyreptilezoo, did you ever have to slow or stop venom extractions?

[@randybennett7643]

Why don't yall have y'all's snakes bite through the plastic stuff like most do.just wondering thank yall

[@kyreptilezoo]

We do use a covering on the funnel when Jim extracts from snakes with short fangs, such as cobras or mambas. Pitvipers and vipers have long enough fangs to get purchase on the funnel without the cover, and it's less material in contact with one snake's mouth, which would then make contact with another snake's mouth (and germs), and so on.

[@BradThompson-l2i]

We definitely got them in South Carolina in horry county

[@nicholascrump831]

What is the largest species of pit vipers??

[@mukeshh178]

It's a gaboon

[@kyreptilezoo]

Gaboon vipers and Puff Adders are among the heaviest of vipers by weight, but the largest pitviper by length is the Bushmaster (Lachesis muta), which can grow to 10 feet.

[@nicholascrump831]

That first one is a beast.

[@colinmcdougall1108]

Man I felt nervous for that guy and those boots,, I know they’re protecting his bottom part but it looked like those snakes could strike well above the height of them and he’s just super relaxed about the whole thing cudos to Jim he’s got big nuts for this

[@bethanynicole871]

This is so satisfying to me

[@Mateyhv1]

Lol, those venom cows

[@KaceyIlliot]

Venom extractor = world's most dangerous job!

[@JamesBond-vx4st]

Wow what a job risking his own life to save snake bite victims. If there is a heaven this dud have place in it

[@maryamamaan8994]

plzzz cover your hand with gloves

[@kyreptilezoo]

Jim does not wear gloves because it limits the dexterity in his hands, and with any garment made of multiple pieces, there are still seams that a fang could get through.

[@robertcarnot9015]

Respect

[@fireheartd8757]

doesnt milking like that hurt em? jw

[@kyreptilezoo]

The process is scary for them. They think Jim could be a predator because he’s a larger animal that’s grabbing them. Extraction has never cause our snakes any physical harm, aside from maybe some discomfort, but we pay attention to their behavior to tell us if they’re hurting in any way, mentally or physically. We feed them the next day, and if they readily eat, that’s a good indicator for us that their stress has gone down and they’re okay.

[@kyreptilezoo]

The process is scary for them. They think Jim could be a predator because he’s a larger animal that’s grabbing them. Extraction has never cause our snakes any physical harm, aside from maybe some discomfort, but we pay attention to their behavior to tell us if they’re hurting in any way, mentally or physically. We feed them the next day, and if they readily eat, that’s a good indicator for us that their stress has gone down and they’re okay.

[@kyreptilezoo]

The process is scary for them. They think Jim could be a predator because he’s a larger animal that’s grabbing them. Extraction has never cause our snakes any physical harm, aside from maybe some discomfort, but we pay attention to their behavior to tell us if they’re hurting in any way, mentally or physically. We feed them the next day, and if they readily eat, that’s a good indicator for us that their stress has gone down and they’re okay.

[@shaikhkarim1992]

So juicy🤣